leslie carretero

• Libya

The Libyan port city of Zouara has issued a deadline for migrants. They are called upon to officially regularize their situation or they will be at risk of expulsion from the city. The Libyan municipality justified its decision by blaming it on a "raised crime rate".

• Libya

Amadi*, a 24-year-old Malian, contacted InfoMigrants to tell us about his experiences in one of Libya's state prisons. Violence against migrants in these detention centers has been well-documented and condemned, yet it continues.

• France

Many asylum seekers in Europe share similar experiences of spending years on the streets and bouncing between different countries in the European Union, unable to obtain official status and to start rebuilding their lives. InfoMigrants spoke to several migrants who are currently in Paris.

• France

This week, around 300 migrants set up camp in the Villemin garden in Paris, hoping to be provided with emergency accommodation by authorities. They were supported by a number of NGOs and local residents.

• Libya

Salif* has attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea six times in the past four years in the hope of reaching Europe from Libya. The 19-year-old Sub-Saharan migrant told InfoMigrants how the departures from the Libyan coast work. He says traffickers and Libyan coast guard officers are sometimes the same people.

• Morocco
• Spain

A new guide in several languages aims to help families and loved ones who are searching for missing migrants. The guide also highlights the rights of families and the responsibilities of countries for those who are missing.

• Morocco
• Spain

Nearly 6,000, mostly Moroccan, migrants irregularly entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta on Monday – the largest number of migrant arrivals ever recorded there over the course of a single day. But what prompted the sudden influx, and how was it even possible? InfoMigrants takes a closer look at the mechanisms behind the sudden mass border-crossing.

• United Kingdom
• France

Four migrants were rescued on Tuesday off the French coast as they were trying to reach England with the aid of oars and paddles. A little earlier, 29 other migrants were picked up by the authorities after their boat broke up on the breakwater near Dunkirk.

• Belgium

Fedasil, the federal agency for the reception of asylum seekers in Belgium, announced on April 24 that it would investigate the Jalhay center for asylum seekers, near Liège. There have been reports of dilapidated premises, threats, and neglect of health care.

• France

The strict COVID-19 lockdown measures imposed in France in March last year hit migrant minors awaiting recognition of their status ten times as hard as the normal population, says a new report from several NGOS, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

• Greece

Franck and his wife, originally from the DRC, were granted refugee status in Greece on March 1. Yet, due to a lack of work and integration, the family is still stuck in the camp on the Greek island of Samos, with no prospects for the future. "We feel we have been abandoned to our sad fate," says Franck.

• United Kingdom

Last week, the British Home Secretary presented a reform of the asylum system to the House of Commons that would no longer grant the same rights to people who have entered the country irregularly instead of legally. NGOs denounced the measure as "cruel and inhumane".